The performance is a real-world demonstration of the current state of iOS as a music platform, and reflects the work developers have done as part of the Open Music App Collaboration initiative.

While I’d disagree with the generalization that music apps that don’t support MIDI are ‘just toys’, the focus that iOS developers have placed on improving MIDI communication between apps has opened up a lot of options for musicians.

Check out the video and let us know what you think about the state of iOS as a music platform!

Reader Tim Webb, aka Discchord, offers his thoughts on One Red Dog Media’s Arctic Keys, one of the latest software synths for the iPad.

“Arctic Keys improves upon the standard Subtractive Synth model with an elaborate step-sequencer,” says Webb. “This is great for a rhythmic control over the parameters.”

Unfortunately, Webb’s bottom line on Arctic Keys is that it’s a really interesting new synth, but ‘buggy as shit’.

It’s important to note that Webb reviewed version 1.0.1. One Red Dog Media has been rapidly updating Arctic Keys, releasing several updates to address crashes in patch browser, problems that cause keys to stop working and other issues. One Red Dog Media has also been actively responding to issues raised by Synthtopia readers.

The current version, 1.0.3, currently has a four-star rating in iTunes.

If you’re an Arctic Keys user, let us know what you think of the latest version.

something to think about

There was suddenly all this software. If you weren’t musically inclined it made it possible for you to sound like a musician. That’s what has totally revolutionized the industry. This is not about going to music school or learning music theory, it’s about passion, experimentation and letting it go. But ultimately, I don’t think any particular form of technology is as revolutionary as the person using it.— Derrick May